Dimond, Alexander (1890-1965)

Obituary from Minutes of the Methodist Conference

Born at Bridlington on 13 May 1890. The son of a manse, which gave to the Methodist Church the devoted ministries of its three sons, he owed much to the character of his home. His early training was in pharmacy, and, after qualifying as M.P.S., he was working at San Remo in Italy when he felt the call to offer for the ministry. He retained his interest in pharmacy throughout his life, and was occasionally called upon to practice. After training at Ranmoor (Sheffield) and Victoria Park College (Manchester), he served in the following circuits: Mansfield, Burnley, Stockport, Redditch, Middlesbrough, Leeds (Victoria Road), Ossett and Horbury, Cottenham, Guernsey, and Marazion. During his retirement he lived at Upminster and Bromley (Kent), always serving the churches and preaching as opportunity offered. He was a faithful and greatly loved pastor. Having a quiet disposition he invited the deeper confidences of his people who found in him one who had suffered bereavement, and who shared shred their joys and sorrows, and proved a wise counsellor and valued friend over many years. He was by nature a careful scholar, reading widely in English literature, Church history, and theology, While readily acquainting himself with new trends in theology and changing patterns of Christian witness, his extensive reading and mature judgement equipped him to be a valaued guide to younger ministers in the work. His fine qualities were recognised by several local Free Church Councils which elected him to be their President, and he always held the respect and confidence of his Anglican colleagues. In his various circuits his sincere faith and radiant influence left behind memories of a dedicated and cultured ministry; and his thoughtful and reverent conduct of worship, and inspired biblical preaching made hi a powerful advocate of the gospel of Christ. It was while visiting his son in South Africa that he died, after a bried illness on 31 August 1965, in the seventy-sixth year of his age and the forty-sixth of his ministry.

©Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 1966

Family

Alexander was born in Bridlington on 13 May 1890, the youngest child of  Richard and Emily Dimond. His father was a United Methodist Free Churches minister and both brothers also became ministers.

He married Winifred Ethel Turner (1893-1943) during the 3rd quarter of 1920 in Mansfield. They had two children

• Jeanne Emily (1921-1995)
• John T.  (1927-)

Alexander died on 31st August 1965 in Wynberg, Cape Province, South Africa.

Circuits

• 1914 Ranmoor College
• 1915 Victoria Park College
• 1916  Mansfield
• 1918  Oldham Union Street
• 1919  Matlock
• 1920  Burnley (received into Full Connexion)
• 1922  Stockport
• 1924  Hucknall
• 1927  Redditch
• 1928  resigned 1931 readmitted
• 1931   Middlesbrough and Stockton
• 1934  Leeds Victoria Road
• 1938  Osset and Horbury
• 1943  Cottenham
• 1948  Guernsey and Alderney
• 1952   Marazion
• 1955   Romford (supernumerary)
• 1963   Bromley (supernumerary)

References

Oliver A Beckerlegge, United Methodist ministers and their circuits: Being an arrangement in alphabetical order of the stations of ministers of the Methodist New … and the United Methodist Church, 1797-1932

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Minutes of the Methodist Conference 1966 p189